ST. PETERSBURG — Normally, it's not a good night when your bullpen is in action four batters into a game. But this — dare we say it? — may be a special time for the Rays, who just may be working their way into position for another dramatic dash to the postseason.

The Rays barely seemed to notice the early departure of starter Matt Moore in clubbing the Blue Jays 11-5 Saturday night to win their fourth straight and move, at 82-70, within 3½ games of the sliding A's — who blew a four-run 13th-inning lead in New York — for the second American League wild-card spot with 10 left to play.

"I think everyone at this point is feeling some sort of pressure, that a couple mistakes can cost you," Evan Longoria said. "We understand we have to go out and win every game, and we're actually in a pretty good spot for this ballclub because we don't have any pressure on us. We don't have anybody crawling up our tail. We're just able to focus on the people that are in front of us and continue to try to put pressure on them."

They've certainly looked relaxed and much more productive.

They set a team record with 43 runs over a four-game span. They hit a season-high-tying four home runs, including a three-run blast by Longoria and a career-high 25th by B.J. Upton. They reached double digits in back-to-back home games for the first time since April 2010.

"I like watching ESPN highlights," Moore said, "and that's basically what we've been watching the last few days."

But what manager Joe Maddon was most enthused about was their discipline at the plate, evidenced by a walk/strikeout ratio of 25-16 over the four games. "The at-bats have been so good," he said. "It's most noticeable by us taking borderline pitches out of the zone."

Longoria said they are also more confident: "You kind of get that feeling, even when you get down in a game, that it's not going to matter, and we've had that before."

Moore lasted only until the third — his third consecutive start of four or fewer innings — though he says he's not worn down from his 172 innings. Maddon said he sensed the rookie lefty "just didn't have it" and went quickly to the bullpen, Burke Badenhop, who got the win, starting a parade of six relievers.

Longoria's second-inning homer, which struck a light on the C-ring catwalk, estimated at 413 feet (though Maddon said it may have been the longest he had seen at the Trop), pushed the Rays ahead 4-2 in the second, and they piled on from there. Desmond Jennings homered in the fourth, and Jose Molina and Upton went deep in a four-run sixth.

Maddon keeps saying how he wants his guys to just focus on one-game winning streaks. But he doesn't mind talking about the pressure the teams they're chasing may be feeling.

"It's tough when you're struggling and you want to get this done and you want to make it happen," he said. "You're always thinking in advance and you're living in the future a little too much, and that really is dangerous.

"Anxiety lives in the future. You've got to stay in the present, you've got focus on today, per at-bat, per pitch. That's what we've been doing. That's the big difference."

For two guys who said they didn't make much of matching up, they sure dueled like they did in Boston's 4-1 victory that was decided after they left.Chris Archer, the Rays current top starter, worked six impressive innings, allowing one run and four h...

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays' pitching rotation for the weekend series against the Orioles could have a familiar look: Romo, Romo, Romo.Manager Kevin Cash said using veteran right-handed reliever Sergio Romo as the "opener" in all three upcoming g...

ST. PETERSBURG — Willy Adames was so excited to be in the big leagues, even if was for just a three-day cameo callup. So thrilled to make a smashing debut with a homer on Tuesday. So proud to have his parents and sister fly in from the Dom...

In a way, the timing of RHP Jake Faria's oblique injury seemed manageable in that RHP Nathan Eovaldi is close to coming off the disabled list and can step in. But on the other hand, the Rays finally could have four regular starters. Imagine that.Ther...

UPDATE, 5:32: Faria is looking at at extended absence, potentially into August. Cash said an estimate of 6-8 weeks was on the optimistic side. "From what we found out he got it pretty good," Cash said. "So it could be a little bit longer than t...

UPDATE, 5:18: Ramos' bruised left thumb is feeling better and though he's not in the lineup Cash said he is available for emergency duty. … OF Carlos Gomez was set to run the bases today as the next test of his strained groin. … Cash said...

Whatever pain RHP Jake Faria was feeling as a result of the oblique muscle on the left side he strained throwing a fourth-inning slider to Boston's Hanley Ramirez couldn't compare to the hurt in his heart.Forced to leave Tuesday's game and likely hea...

ST. PETERSBURG — Top prospect Willy Adames is only going to get to stay with the Rays for a few days, so good for him for making the most of it with a home run in his first big-league game, and off Red Sox ace Chris Sale no less.But the good fe...

Marc Topkin's takeaways from Rays 4-2 loss to Red Sox on Tuesday:* The Rays record against a Red Sox team they consider a measuring stick doesn't look very good at 3-8. But, as manager Kevin Cash and several players pointed out, there is some consola...

ST. PETERSBURG — Criticisms of the Rays' latest innovative pitching strategy have piled up since Angels INF Zack Cosart said after Sunday's game that starting RHP Sergio Romo to get the first three-six outs was "bad for baseball.''One of the lo...

Our partner @Sportsmanias is a great way to follow Tampa Bay's favorite teams and keep up with all of the Times/tampabay.com sports coverage. Get the app here.

About the Tampa Bay Rays Section

Now that the 2016 season is in the books for the Tampa Bay Rays, what will the Rays do in the offseason to prepare for 2017? Which players will be back? Which won't? What additions will be made? Come here to follow Tampa Bay Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.